Lecture 1

Question 1

Define Cartography.

Answer 1

Field of study exploring map construction

Question 2

Define Physical Geography.

Answer 2

The study of rocks and minerals, landforms, soils, animals, plants, water, atmosphere and climate relative to a specific spatial location

Question 3

Define Human Geography.

Answer 3

The study of population, settlements, economic activity, transportation, recreational activities, religion, politics, social tradition, migration agriculture and urban systems relative to a spacial point.

Question 4

Define Geography.

Answer 4

The study of natural and human constructed phenomena relative to a spacial dimension.

Question 5

Define Geomorphology.

Answer 5

Study of various landforms on earths surface.

Question 6

Define Pedology.

Answer 6

Study of soil.

Question 7

Define Biogeography.

Answer 7

The science that investigates the spacial relationships of plants and animals.

Question 8

Define Hydrology.

Answer 8

Study of water in all forms.

Question 9

Define Meteorology.

Answer 9

Study of the circulation of the atmosphere over short time spans.

Question 10

Define Climatology.

Answer 10

Study of the effects of weather on life and examines the circulation of the atmosphere over larger time spans.

Question 11

What is a system?

Answer 11

A set of interrelated components working together.

Question 12

What are three properties of a system?

Define them.

Answer 12

Elements: the parts that make up a system

Attributes: characteristics of elements that may be perceived and measured

Relationships: the associations between elements

Question 13

Photosynthesis is an example of a __________ system.

Answer 13

Environmental

Question 14

Define Equilibrium.

Answer 14

The average condition of a system measured through one of its elements.

Question 15

Define Process.

Answer 15

Actions or mechanisms that operate on or between components of a system.

Question 16

Define Feedback.

Answer 16

A systems response to changing system input or output.

Question 17

What are the two types of feedback?

Answer 17

Positive and negative.

Question 18

Define Positive Feedback.

Answer 18

This moves a system away from balance/equilibrium. This is not good.

Question 19

Define Negative Feedback.

Answer 19

This brings a system back to equilibrium. This is good.

Question 20

What is Toblers first law of geography?

Answer 20

Nearer things are more likely to be closely related.

Question 21

What does the term Plate Tectonics refer to?

Answer 21

Continents are on tectonic plates that are constantly shifting. This causes movement of the continents and where two plates come together mountains can be formed, or earthquakes occur.

Question 22

What happens to mountain ranges over time due to the cycle of erosion?

Answer 22

The mountains are weathered down, and change from youthful, high energy mountains with steep slopes and quick sediment movement to old, or mature, mountain ranges with low potential, slow sediment movement and flat slopes.

Question 23

What is the life cycle of a mountain range?

Answer 23

Youthful—> Early Mature—> Late Mature—> Mature

Question 24

What is the first law of thermodynamics?

Answer 24

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred.